Background
The UNDP-implemented regional project Wider Europe: Aid for Trade for Central Asia is designed in line with Finland’s Development Policy programme and UNDP’s development vision. It promotes inclusive, green economic growth through promoting trade and enhancing national competitiveness and sustainable development, by helping poor and vulnerable communities to share in the gains from trade.
Aid for Trade (AFT) is a global initiative that strengthens developing countries’ abilities to capture gains from international trade. Much of this agenda is focused on strengthening domestic production and competitiveness, via the creation of enabling business environments and building economic infrastructure. Activities coming under AFT fall into five categories: (1) trade policy and regulation; (2) trade development; (3) economic infrastructure; (4) productive capacity; and (5) adjustment costs.
UNDP’s approach use a human centric approach to trade. By helping poor and vulnerable households and communities start, expand, and formalize small and medium-sized companies that can participate in cross-border and regional trade and global value chains, this project expands people’s capacities, as well as promoting trade and reducing poverty. By helping trade policy makers to take advantage of the development opportunities presented by preferential trading arrangements and to better understand the socio-economic and environmental consequences of trade policies; this project strengthens the institutional capacities needed for inclusive growth and sustainable development. Trade and human development can therefore be mutually beneficial.
Phase III of the regional AFT project (2014-2017) built on the experiences and lessons learned of Phases I and II. The AFT needs assessments undertaken under Phase I in Central Asia, the South Caucasus, and Western CIS identified policy recommendations and technical assistance activities to help trade better contribute to human development and poverty reduction. In contrast to previous phases, Phase III focuses exclusively on the post-Soviet region’s low-income countries, which are located in Central Asia. AFT therefore emphasize close cooperation with other UNDP flagship national and sub-regional activities in the region, such as UNDP’s engagement in the Central Asian Regional Risk Assessment and Central Asian Regional Economic Cooperation processes (particularly in terms of trade corridors, and engagement with other development partners working on trade facilitation and trade policy in Central Asia), and its area-based/community-based/local development initiatives (including those undertaken under the Poverty-Environment Initiative).
The project has three components, working on three conceptual levels. On the macro level, component I focuses on capacity development for trade policy makers; on the meso level, component II strengthens trade support institutions; while on the micro level component III focuses on capacity development, helping agro-processing stakeholders to increase exports. The project is implemented in Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan.
Duties and Responsibilities
Goals and objectives:
The purpose of this assignment is to assess the potential of Tajik products for the Finnish market and vice-versa. This action will be implemented with the purpose of diversification of export markets and for finding new non-traditional export markets for exporting of Tajik products.
Duties and responsibilities:
Under the supervision of the National Coordinator of Aid for Trade project in Tajikistan, the Individual Consultant (IC) will undertake the following tasks:
- Conduct an assessment of Tajik products which have an advantage and possibility to export to the Finnish market, and identify at least 4 most demanded at Finnish markets the Tajik products. As well as assess Tajikistan market in order to find the possibilities for selling the Finnish products in Tajikistan and define the most demanded the Finnish products in TJK.
- Identify the EU, Finnish and Tajik requirements for each of the identified products, these will include import and export requirements, required laboratory tests and documents, required certification for export and import documents, customs regulations as well as packaging standards;
- Identify the Finnish market demand for each of the identified products, this will include price and volume comparison, main buyers and resellers, quality comparison. Identify the main prospective partners/buyers, as well as their needs in terms of volumes, quality, packaging and shipment frequency;
- Identify the main hurdles/barriers in Finnish market entry for each of the identified product and provide solutions on how to resolve them.
- Identify the possible buyers in Finnish markets for identified Tajik products and provide an assistance in establishing links between Tajik and Finnish businesses.
- Assist in organizing and conducting of B2B meeting between Tajik and Finnish stakeholders (exporters, importers, trade support institutions), make a presentation on identified products and findings, prepare the tentative list of participants from both sides, the programme and concept of the meeting, etc.
For detailed information, please refer to the Terms of Reference of the the below link.
Competencies
Corporate Competencies:
- Demonstrates integrity by modeling the UN’s values and ethical standards;
- Promotes the vision, mission, and strategic goals of UNDP;
- Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability;
- Treats all people fairly without favoritism;
- Fulfills all obligations to gender sensitivity and zero tolerance for sexual harassment.
Functional Competencies:
- Strong interpersonal skills, communication and diplomatic skills, ability to work in a team;
- Ability to plan and organize his/her work, efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results;
- Ability to receive/integrate feedback;
- Ability to work under pressure and stressful situations;
- Strong analytical, reporting and writing abilities.
Required Skills and Experience
Education:
- University Degree in Business and Administration or related discipline.
Experience:
- At least 5 years work experience in area of conduction market assessment and B2B matching activities;
- At least 5 years of working with Central Asian and Finnish markets and companies; experience in Tajikistan and knowledge about Tajik products is considered an asset.
Language:
- Fluent working ability in English and Finnish is required, Russian is considered as an asset.
Application Procedure:
Please follow the link to the Individual Consultant Procurement Notice:
UNDP is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality and culture. Individuals from minority groups, indigenous groups and persons with disabilities are equally encouraged to apply. All applications will be treated with the strictest confidence.